Buddleja plant named ‘MISS PEARL’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Buddleja  cultivar named ‘MISS PEARL’ is disclosed, characterized by white ruffled flowers, upright spike-like inflorescences, compact growth habit with high lateral branching and dense foliage, medium green leaf color (adaxial side) with silver-gray underside. Plants are female sterile and anthers malformed or lacking. The new variety is a  Buddleja , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Buddleja sp.

Variety denomination: ‘MISS PEARL’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Buddleja cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Dennis James Werner, at a research greenhousein Raleigh, N.C., U.S.A. The objective of the breeding program was toproduce new Buddleja varieties for ornamental commercial applications.The cross resulting in this new variety was made during July of 2009.

The seed parent is the, patented, commercial variety referred to asBuddleja ‘Ice Chip’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,015. The pollen parent is thepatented, commercial variety referred to as Buddleja ‘Miss Molly’ U.S.Plant Pat. No. 23,425 The new variety was discovered on Jun. 21, 2011 bythe inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2009 crossing,at a research nursery in Jackson Springs, N.C., U.S.A.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by semi-hardwoodstem cuttings. This was first performed at the Horticulture Field Labgreenhouse NCSU Raleigh, N.C., U.S.A. in July of 2015 and has shown thatthe unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true totype in 2 successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘MISS PEARL’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘MISS PEARL’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘MISS PEARL’ as a new and distinct Buddlejacultivar:

-   -   1. Whited flowers with ruffled petals.    -   2. Upright, spike-like inflorescences.    -   3. Compact growth habit with high lateral branching and dense        foliage.    -   4. Medium green leaf color (adaxial side) with silver-gray        underside.    -   5. Essentially female sterile.    -   6. Anthers malformed or lacking.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MISS PEARL’ are similar to plants of theseed parent, Buddleja ‘Ice Chip’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,015 in mosthorticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘MISSPEARL’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Semi-upright growth habit, whereas the seed parent has a        spreading growth habit.    -   2. Ruffled petals, whereas the seed parent has non-ruffled        petals.    -   3. The new variety produces more flowers.    -   4. The new variety is less vigorous.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MISS PEARL’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent, Buddleja ‘Miss Milly’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,425 in mosthorticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘MISSPEARL’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Flowers color is white, whereas the pollen parent has deep        pink flowers.    -   2. Essentially female sterile, whereas the pollen parent is        moderately female fertile.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MISS PEARL’ are comparable to the unpatentedcommercial variety Buddleja ‘White Ball’. The two Buddleja varieties aresimilar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety‘MISS PEARL’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Semi-upright growth habit whereas the comparator has a        rounded growth habit.    -   2. Longer inflorescences.    -   3. Taller stature.    -   4. Ruffled petals, whereas the comparator has non-ruffled        petals.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MISS PEARL’ can also be compared to thepatented commercial variety Buddleja ‘Miss Ruby’ U.S. Plant Pat. No.19,950. The two Buddleja varieties are similar in most horticulturalcharacteristics; however, the new variety ‘MISS PEARL’ differs in thefollowing:

-   -   1. Flower color is white whereas the comparator flower color is        pink.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical inflorescence of ‘MISS PEARL’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a plant of ‘Miss Pearl’ grown in a nursery, in a 3gallon pot. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 2-3 years oldfrom a rooted cutting.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plant of ‘Miss Pearl’ grown in a nursery, in a 1gallon pot, with aging inflorescence.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 1996 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘MISS PEARL’ plants grown in a poly greenhouseduring the June, in Grand Haven, Mich. U.S.A. The growing temperatureranged from 18° C. to 27° C. during the day and from 5° C. to 10° C.during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical planttypes.

-   Botanical classification: Buddleja ‘MISS PEARL’.

PROPAGATION

-   Type of propagation typically used: Softwood or semi-hardwood    cutting.-   Time to initiate roots: 14-21 days at 21-23.8° C. average    temperature.-   Time to produce a rooted young plant: 45 days at 21-23.8° C. average    temperature.-   Root description: Dense, free-branching, medium thickness, fleshy.    Color is tan, not accurately described with R.H.S. chart.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: 1 year from rooted cutting.-   Plant type: Perennial shrub.-   Container size of the plant described: 3 gallon pot.-   Appropriate containers: 1, 2, 3, 5 gallon commercial pots.-   Growth habit: Upright.-   Overall plant shape: Irregular cylindric.-   Height: 63-76 cm in a 3 gallon container.-   Plant spread: 63-76 cm in a 3 gallon container.-   Growth rate: Moderate.-   Plant vigor: Moderate.-   Characteristics of primary lateral branches:    -   -   Quantity.—Average 50.        -   Branching habit.—Upright, basal branching some pinching            required.        -   Branch appearance.—Square.        -   Length.—10-12 in.        -   Diameter.—3 mm.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow-green 144A.        -   Pubescence.—Highly pubescent.        -   Stem aspect/angle.—Angle can be between 45° to 90° from            center of plant.        -   Strength.—Moderate.-   Internode length: 7 cm.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, single.        -   Average length.—9-10 cm.        -   Average width.—4.5 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Slightly undulate and serrate.        -   Texture of top surface.—Soft/pubescent.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Soft/pubescent.        -   Pubescence.—Yes, both upper and lower side of leaf.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: RHS Green 139A. Young            foliage under side; Near RHS Greyed-green 191B. Mature            foliage upper side: RHS Green 139A. Mature foliage under            side: Near RHS Greyed-green 191B.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS            Green 139A. Venation color under side: Near RHS Greyed-green            191B.        -   Petiole.—Length: 3 mm. Diameter: 2 mm. Color: Upper side:            Near RHS Greyed-green 191B. Lower side: Near RHS            Greyed-green 191B. Texture: Upper side: Soft/pubescent.            Lower side: Soft/pubescent.

FLOWER

-   Flower arrangement: Cone shape panicle.-   Flower type: Slaverform.-   Flowering habit: Paniculate.-   Natural flowering season: Late Spring to early Summer in greenhouse    early to late Summer in landscape.-   Inflorescence height: 4 cm.-   Inflorescence width: 2.5 cm.-   Inflorescence and flower type and habit: Dense panicle, terminal and    axillary.-   Rate of flower opening: Moderate.-   Flower longevity on plant: 3-4 weeks.-   Persistent or self-cleaning: Self-cleaning.-   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence: Approximate average of 200.-   Quantity of flowers per plant: Approximately 10,000 on 50 blooming    inflorescence.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Elongated, linear balloon.        -   Length.—3 mm.        -   Diameter.—1-2 mm.        -   Color.—RHS Yellow-white 158D.-   Flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—3 mm.        -   Length.—5 mm.        -   Depth (height).—5 mm.-   Petals:    -   -   Appearance.—Smooth, white, ruffled.        -   Arrangement.—Whorled, fused.        -   Petal length.—4 mm.        -   Petal width.—3 mm.        -   Quantity.—5.        -   Texture.—Smooth and soft.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Shape.—Rotund.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Undulate.        -   Aspect.—Upright/outward.-   Petal color:    -   -   When opening.—Upper surface: RHS White 155A. Lower surface:            RHS White 155A.        -   Fully opened.—Upper surface: RHS White 155C. Lower surface:            RHS White 155C.        -   Fading to color.—Upper and lower: RHS Greyed-yellow 160D            fading to Greyed-orange 165B.-   Sepals:    -   -   Quantity per flower.—5.        -   Arrangement.—Whorled.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate to Ovate.        -   Length.—3 mm.        -   Width.—2 mm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire/inconspicuous.        -   Texture.—Upper: Smooth/pubescent. Lower: Smooth/ slightly            pubescent.        -   Color.—Upper Surface: RHS Yellow-green 144A. Lower Surface:            RHS Yellow-green 144A.-   Calyx:    -   -   Shape.—Oblong and unguiculate.        -   Length.—1 mm.        -   Diameter.—1 mm.        -   Color.—Too minute to accurately measure.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—1 mm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 mm.        -   Angle.—Upright/outward.        -   Strength.—Moderate.        -   Texture.—Smooth/pubescent.        -   Color.—RHS Greyed-orange 168D.-   Pedicel: Not present.-   Fragrance: Moderate; sweet fragrance.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—4.        -   Filament length.—0.5 mm.        -   Filament color.—RHS yellow-green 145A.-   Anthers:    -   -   Shape.—Malformed, less than 1 mm.        -   Pollen.—Quantity: Scant.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—3 mm.        -   Style.—Length: 1.5 mm. Color: RHS Yellow-green 144D.        -   Stigma.—Shape: Round. Color: RHS Yellow-green 144C. Ovary            Color: RHS Yellow-green 144C.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: Not observed to date.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    the normal diseases and pests of Buddleja observed to date.-   Lowest temperature tolerance: To date in trials −13.9° C.-   Highest temperature tolerance: To date in trials 38.8° C.-   Garden performance: Good to excellent.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Buddleja plant named ‘MISS PEARL’ as herein illustrated and described. 